The two semi-final line-ups that have emerged from the weekend's quarter finals - Brazil-Holland and France-Croatia - tell us a great deal about the nature of a France 98 World Cup that has continued to favour sides willing to play football at the expense of those determined to base their success on a defensive, percentage game.
How many pundits would have comfortably predicted one month ago that Argentina, Germany and Italy would all fail to make the semi-finals? Their failures this weekend represented a form of sporting justice that, in this World Cup at least, has greatly benefitted from often controversial refereeing based on the new, unwritten FIFA creed that the benefit of the doubt must now lie with the attacking side.
Regular readers of this column will know that I am a fan of the current Dutch team and, as such, I was delighted to see them beat Argentina in a real cracker of a game in Marseille on Saturday.
It is not that I do not admire Argentina. On the contrary, the Argentinians have a terrific side, but I feel that they spoil things by occasionally questionable behaviour.
Take Diego Simeone, for example - he crashed into David Beckham during the England game, fouling the Manchester United player and provoking the reaction that, as we all know, led to Beckham's sending-off. Simeone managed something similar when brought down by Arthur Numan on Saturday, rolling over theatrically after the Dutchman's foul and perhaps influencing the referee's decision to issue a second yellow card.
In the end, though, that sort of behaviour will not always win out and when Ariel Ortega headbutted goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar minutes later, it seemed only right that he too be given his marching orders. After that, there then came Dennis Bergkamp's winning goal which, for my money, is the best goal of the World Cup so far - Michael Owen's goal against Argentina included.
Bergkamp's reading of the 60yard pass, his control and his winning shot was simply breathtaking. This was football of the highest class and it suggests to me that Bergkamp is a much better player for his time in the Premiership, more determined and mature. His goal, incidentally, has set us up for a mouthwatering semi-final clash with Brazil.
The Dutch are a positive side in which everybody tries to play the ball forward and in which everyone looks comfortable on the ball. As such, they represent Brazil's first serious challenge in the tournament so far. Remember, Brazil have had a cushioned run to the semi-finals, having beaten Scotland, Morocco, Chile and Denmark to get there.
Having said that, though, I think Brazil should win if only because in Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Leonardo and, to a lesser extent, Bebeto, they have four players capable of single-handedly winning the game. Still, hold tight for fireworks in Marseille.
As for the other semi-final, frankly I see France first past the post against Croatia. Yet another refereeing decision, yet again in favour of the attacking side, probably decided Croatia's 3-0 win against Germany on Saturday night in Lyon. Until Christian Woerns was sent off by Norwegian referee Rune Pedersen, Germany had looked in control of the match with Oliver Bierhoff and Dietmar Hamann both having come close to scoring.
Having lost Woerns and then conceded a goal just before halftime, the Germans were then left in a very difficult situation. A younger German side might still have pulled it off but this one, with six over-30 year olds, never looked likely to get back into the match. They were finally wiped out by the inevitable counter-attacking of Davor Suker and company.
I imagine the French will have watched this match and thought happy thoughts. Even though Suker is an extremely talented, experienced and crafty striker, he is not in himself enough to trouble this French side. I see the Croats in difficulty in midfield where Zvonimir Boban and Alijosa Asanovic both look tired players. Both are wonderfully talented when given time to play, but I suspect that French midfielders Emmanuel Petit and Didier Deschamps will not let them settle into any rhythm.
Still, this too will be another game worth going a long way to see, if only because the host nation are one match away from their first ever World Cup final.
(In an interview with Paddy Agnew)
